Bishop's Appeal seeks funds for services

This year marks the 48th year that the people of the Albany Diocese are being invited to pledge their financial support so the Diocese can meet the financial challenges it faces in educating children, serving the poor and the elderly and carrying out many other essential ministries.

The annual Bishop's Appeal officially begins on the weekend of April 20-21 when every parish family will be asked to consider making a sacrificial pledge according to their financial means.

Information

The Bishop's Appeal supports many diocesan programs and services, such as the extensive Catholic Charities network of programs, the formation of clergy through education and support programs, and a large network of pastoral services, formation programs and education opportunities for the Catholic laity.

For example, last year saw diocesan faith formation and education programs receiving more than two million dollars, a figure that comprised 29 percent of the total ($7,257,589) pledged by Catholics.

Education

With funding from the Appeal:

* the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis welcomed more than 1,225 people to the 2001 Spring Enrichment program and trained more than 50 parishes in the U.S. bishops' national plan for adult faith formation;

* the diocesan Formation for Ministry program carried on as a two-year program designed to form laity to be leaders in their parishes. Since the program began in 1984, more than 900 lay leaders have been trained. Last year, 52 men and women from 24 parishes were commissioned for leadership roles in ministry.

Baptismal call

"Through Baptism, our relationship with Jesus and His Church was begun," the Bishop wrote. "Through Confirmation, we made our own conscious decision to nurture and deepen our life-long relationship with Our Lord. With commitment comes duty and responsibility."

The Albany Diocese ranks in the top 10 percent in the nation in the total amount raised in the annual Bishop's Appeal. It gives diocesan programs the financial resources needed to provide day-to-day programs and services to parishes in a continuing effort to promote ministries and ensure the ongoing vitality of the Church, both at the diocesan and parish level.

The Bishop, who is marking his 25th anniversary as head of the Diocese, said that "I simply cannot fulfill my sacred [ordination] oath without you. Together, we become partners in faith. Together, we serve. Together, we share. I ask that you place the Bishop's Appeal among your financial priorities and responsibilities."

(For more information, see the advertisment in The Evangelist's print edition.)

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